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Prison guard admits bribery

9:55 AM Wednesday Nov 28, 2012

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A former prison guard who has admitted arranging drug deals into a Waikato facility with an inmate has been fired.

Perive Matuaitofiga, 25, smuggled cannabis and tobacco into Spring Hill prison in north Waikato into jail in exchange for $500 for each exchange, and another deal to supply ecstasy, TVNZ reported. An inmate assisted the deal using a cellphone from inside prison.

Matuaitofiga was searched by security guards and caught carrying 60g of tobacco, more than 40g of cannabis and pills, One News said.

Department of Corrections central regional manager Terry Buffery said he believed the former guard was acting alone. "Our prisoners are very manipulative people and they would want to give the officer a feeling of comfort."

Matuaitofiga is due to be sentenced in January on bribery charges. APNZ